Machine for disintegrating the debris in field crop rows



March 2-3, 1954 THOM 2,672,718

MACHINE FOR DISINTEGRATING THE DEBRIS IN FIELD CROP ROWS Filed Feb. 28, 1950 a Sheets-Sheet 1 WWW INVENTOR I 23 RbBEBTJJHOMAS March 23, 1954 R. J OM 2,672,718

MACHINE FOR DISINTEGRATING THE DEBRIS IN FIELD CROP ROWS Filed Feb. 28, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 F|G.3. I

INVENTOR" ROBERT J. THOMAS ROWS March 23, 1954 R. J. THOMAS MACHINE FOR DISINTEGRATING THE DEBRIS IN FIELD CROP 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb.

INVENTOR ROBERTJ.THOMAS Patented Mar. 23, 1954 MACHINE? FOR; DEBRIS IN DISINTEGRATING THE FIELD CROP ROWS' Robert), Thomas, Cherokee, Iowa ApplinationEebruary 28, 1950, Serial No.

6' Claims. (01. 55-61) The present invention relates to agriculturalmachinery, and more particularly to a machine adapted to disintegrate and trash remaining after the. harvesting of field for seeding for the following season.

Of course it is Well known that aftertheharnot; only is a laborious and; time consuming: operation but, in addition, such trash forms an excellent breeding ground for various insects which infest 'thestalks. Furtroublesome problem forfarmers.

.Numerous efforts! have 'been made to provide. machines which will disintegrate-theltrash and ment quite expensive both as.- to initial: cost and" to maintenance. Furthermore, these prior ma.- chines have a tendency tol place, the; mutilated or disintegrated: material into windrows,. and manifestly, this. result is most objectionable.

The present machine comprises a wheeled framework suitably. fabricated which. is hingedly supported bythe rear of a. tractor orother mobile vehicle, the framework being connectedwith the hydraulic lift assembly that the framework in its entirety may be moved to a point above the ground and maintained in such position when not in to and from the, fields to b treated, and turning at the ends of rows.

A drive shaft is journaled tetheframowork and is operatively connectedjto the tractor power take-off, the outer orfr'ee endofv the drive shaft supporting counter-rotating hammers or heaters, the beaters or hammers beingsubstantially enclosed by means of a hood suitably supported by the rear of the framework A pair of adjustably mounted disks'are; car ried by the framework. forwardlyof the rotating hammers or boaters for gathering the trash, digging the roots andmoving-the dirt toward the counterr-rota in szhommnmi by; means: cfw

of the tractor in order 2. which hammers the-trash, which has been dis integrated is; directed and re-distributed evenly backupon the cleaned area Of the An. object of the present; invention is to pro-r sequent cropplanting.

Yet another object of my invention is; tozpz or vide a machine ofthe character described where, in at least a pair of setsof counter-rotatingbeat; er bars or hammers are-scoonstructed as; to pre vide equal distribution:

And still another obj, provide a heater bar unit forus in amachine of: the character described provided; with a cutting,

edge disposed toward the; lin of; movement of the trash or debris, which also: functions to pull,

the debris into the mutilating mechamsm.

And still another; object. of my invention is: to provide a novel connecting means between theframework ofthe machine and the: tractor whereby the. entire machine maybe elevatedby A the employment of asingle hydraulic cylinder on the tractor.

Yet another object ofthe. invention is-tov pro' vide a pair, of disks, which aresupported by the framework toenable the various, kinds, andtypes of. rid e; rows;

With thev foregoing and: other objects in View, the invention consists in the; details of con-i struction, and inthe arrangement. andcombination of parts to be hereinafter. more fully set forth and claimed.

In describing the invention in'detail, reference will behad to the accompanying drawings form ing part of this application, wherein like char-- acters denote corresponding parts in the-several views, and in which Figure 1 is a plan view structed in accordance tion, the attachment being; shown supported by the rear of a tractor of any suitablemake Figure 2 is an end of the attachment conured ia-a- View infsideelemtioni; panda of, the mutilated material; ect; of; my invention is, to.

disks; toaccommodate with the present; invensection, of the showing of Figure 1, but being on a somewhat reduced scale.

Figure 6 is a view in perspective of the unit, the elevating arms being omitted, but being on a somewhat enlarged scale.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Figure l, I have indicated a conventional tractor Ill, to the rearend of which is supported th wheeled attachment of the present invention indicated generally II. The tractor I is provided with a pair of parallel spaced rearwardly extending brackets 12 which are detachably connected to the rear axle of the tractor by suitable nut and bolt assemblies 13. The frame H is pivotally attached to the brackets l2 by means of arms 14, the pivotal connection being indicated at l5.

The frame ll comprises a pair of spaced parallel horizontally extending angle irons l6 and l6A, the horizontal and vertical flanges of which are formed with a series of equally spaced apertures l1 and I8, respectively. To support the angle irons in the correct spaced relationship, it will be noted that a plurality of lI-beams R9 are adapted to rest upon the horizontal flanges of .the respective irons, and each end of the I- beams is flanged, as shown at 28, the flanges being provided with openings 21 on opposite sides of the web of the I-beam, the openings being adapted to be placed in registry with the apertures 18 in the irons l6 and 23A and secured thereto by means of nut and bolt assemblies 22. While I have shown the use of four such I-beams, it is, of course, to be understood that a greater number could be employed if the situation warrantedadditional strengthening or reinforcing. The outermost I-beams l9, denoted IQA, serve to support ground wheels 23, preferably of the type having a pneumatic tire. Each wheel 23 is provided with aspindle or stub shaft 24 and free to turn upon the spindle or stub shaft. The stub shaft is securely fastened to the lower end of a vertically extending I-beam 25. A suitable caster or look washer is provided for the stub shaft to prevent the wheel from coming off. Shaft 24 is of such length that the outer flange of the I- beam will be located inwardly of the horizontal I-beam ISA and will extend through the gap or space defined by vertical plates 25 and 21 Of a bracket assembly indicated 28. The bracket assembly includes an outer vertical plate 29, the plates 26, 21 and 29 being fastly secured to the I-beam H! by means of a plurality of bolts 38 which extend through alined openings in the respective plates, the bolts having nuts 3| threaded to each end thereof. Manifestly, by loosening the nuts 3|, the I-beam 25 may be adjusted longitudinally relative to the beam ISA as well as vertically, the purpose of which will hereinafter be more fully described.

A pair of disks 32 are supported by the innermost beams 19, these beams for the purpose of clarity being identified lSB. Each disk 32 is provided with a spindle 33, the spindle 33 being journaled in a sleeve 34 anchored to flange 35 of a bracket construction 36. The bracket 33 comprises a channel member 31 which is adapted to receive between the vertical walls thereof an I- beam 38. The bracket is pivotally mounted to the lower end of the-I-beam by means of a nut and bolt member 39, the nut extending through an aperture (not shown) in the web of the beam 38. In order to secure the bracket 36 at the desired position relative to the beam 38, a pair of nut and bolt assemblies 40 are associated with the bracket on opposite sides of the flanges of the beam 38. The upper end of the beam 38 extends through and is attached to the I-beam I913 by an adjustable bracket device 4|, as shown in Figures 1 and 3, and inasmuch as the bracket 4| is similar both in structural detail and operation to the bracket 28, no further description is believed necessary.

Hence, it can be seen that the beam 38 is adjustable vertically and horizontally with respect to the frame, and the spindle of the disk 32 is adjustable relative to the beam 38 in a vertical longitudinal plane. and in a horizontal plane. Furthermore, since the beams 19B are adjustable longitudinally \of the angle irons l6 and 18A, this will enable the machine to be employed in connection with ridge rows of varying widths. This adjustable mounting of the disks is important, in that it will permit the machine to be used in conjunction with different kinds and types of ridge rows.

The arms 14 previously referred to nels 42 which are suitably secured at one end to the vertical flange of the angle iron 15, which channels extend downwardly therefrom at an angle relative to the frame H. The web of the channel is provided with a series of spaced openings 43 and the pivotal connection 15 includes a vertically disposed angle piece '44 which is attached by autogenous welding or the like to each bracket l2. The free flange of the angle piece 44 has a series of apertures 45 and by placing the desired aperture 45 in registrywith the as sired aperture 43 in the beam 42, the respective parts may be pivotally connected bymeans of a bolt or the like 46. By virtue of its adjustable nature this particular construction will compensate for the position of the'frame by reason'of the final positioning of the disks and wheels for the terrain being treated.

To elevate or to move the frame Il' about the point of pivot 15, it will be noted that each arm 41 of the hydraulic lift 48 on thetractor pivotally supports one end of a connecting link 49','a's indicated at 58. The opposite end of each link is pivotally secured to the horizontal flange of the angle iron [6A, asindicated at 5|. Manifestly, upon activation of the hydraulic unit, the links 49 will raise the frame I l above the ground surface to permit the' machine to travel along highways, fields and the like when not in use.

A rotating debris or trash multilatir'ig unit denoted generally 52 is supported at therear of the frame H and rotary movement is imparted to the unit from a power take-off 53 on the tractor 10 through a drive connection'54. The drive connection 54 comprises a drive shaft 55 which is suitably supported by a. bracket or pillow box 56 attached to the angle iron 16 in any convenient removable manner, such as shown at 51, the bracket 56 being located at approximately the midpoint of the iron ther supported by a reverse gear box 58, which gear box in turn is fastened to the angle iron IBA by a bracket structure 58. The forward end of the drive shaft shaft assembly Bll through a universal joint 6|, and the opposite end of the shaft 60 is attached to the power take-off 53 by means ofa second universal joint 62, and it will be noted that the universal joint 62 is in substantially the same are chantransverse line as the point of pivoting of the frame H to the arms l2 whichwill allow the frame to follow the ground contourlongitudinally and permit the frame 16. The shaft 55 is fur:

55 is coupled to a telescopic "to be lifted" bodily from the surface frame fron1 moving laterallyduring forward mo tion, of the tractor.

U square s a 1n t nted, the tube fitbe'ing of spaced disks 66 are supported by the hub 65,

10 to which a second pair of disks W are attached. A plurality of bars 12 the disks H, as shown at cated at 15. An idler sprocket i6 is journaled in the box 58 above the sprocket M, and a chain 11 is trained around the respective sprockets. A gear wheel or pinion 18 is journaled in the opposite wall of the box 58 and is suitably fastened to the sprocket 16, as indicated at I9. The gear wheel '13 meshes with a similar gear wheel or pinion 80 which in turn is fastened to the shaft in any suitable manner, as at 8|. Consequently, it can be seen that the above described gearing will rotate the disks H and, as a consequence, the bars 12 in a direction opposite to that of the disks B6 and the bars 61.

A hood 82 having an open lower end 83 is adapted to house the bars 6'! and 12 whereby the multilated debris will be directed back upon the ground, and the lower open end 83 is of such length as to be approximately that of the width of two crop ridge rows. The hood may be attached to the vertical flange of the angle iron MA by bolts or the like 84' and may be further reinforced by a brace 85 which is attached at one end to the upper portion of the hood, as indicated at M, and at its opposite extremity to the front angle iron I6, as at 81.

The bars 67 and 12 may be notched, as at B8,

and thereby assist in the prevention of clogging the feed flow of the debris.

During the movement of the machine along the crop rows, the disks 32 will dig, uproot or pull out from beneath the surface of the ground the crop row roots, etc. and feed them together with the crest of the row and any other trash or debris rearwardly into the mutilating unit 52. The counter-rotating bars 61 and 12 will completely mutilate plant roots, the topmost earth portion of the ridge rows and all other trash which has been picked up through the single channel defined by the disks 32 and subsequently which overlapstwo prop re;distribute an even? fashion th tist ne s-ci e h i b rst.v ;Th .imach ,.e.w fi q debris above the ground -from a siirface width V ro se r h s mately; ha-lf waytq-the serum-a sets es either side of'theframe ll i nz o der o' sh e flo r erator from; flying: debris whieap@csspsanamay pm l m th .ml lat'in f bar -at the we we a' metal shieldjmay be located beneath he frame denned by theirl'is" II amib t s seth *b'eams I 8B. This shield et f gth veh le nmodifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

I claim:

first group, a pair of spaced depending angularly disposed earth-engaging disks supported by the frame forwardly of the said bars and m laterally disks with respect to the frame.

2. A machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein means are provided to adjust the angular position of the disks with respect to the frame.

claimed in claim 1 wherein a 4. A machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said sleeve is mounted on the drive shaft forsaid gear train includes a sprocket fixed to said sleeve, an idler sprocket spaced from the: first named sprocket. a chain trained around said sprockets, a gear spaced from and seciired to the idler sprocket, and a gear wheel fixed to said drive shaft and meshing with said first named gear wheel. I

6. A machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said drive shaft includes a shaft journaled in said frame, a telescopic shaft section, a universal joint between the drive shaft and the telescopic shaft section, and a second universal joint between shaft section and the power take-off.

ROBERT J. THOMAS.

the free end of said telescopic 10 8 Cited in the file of this patent References UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,059,404 Spiva Apr. 22, 1913 1,117,314 Blunck Nov. 1'7, 1914 2,400,595 Okeson May 21, 1936 2,479,510 Pollard et a1 Aug. 16, 1949 2,500,914 Sells et al. Mar. 14, 1950 2,526,396 Nowlin Oct. 1'7, 1950 2,569,308 I-Iaapala Sept. 25, 1951 

